Wheel construction.



ci A. FR-IGK.

Patented June 28,1910. F

II IT STATS PATENT @FFIQE.

CHESTER A. ERICK, OF DEFIANCE, OHIO.

WHEEL CONSTRUCTION.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHESTER A. FRIoK, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Defiance, in the county of Defiance and State of Ohio,have invented a certain new and useful l/Vheel Construction; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to vehicle wheels, and more particularly to meansfor securely locking the hub ends of spokes together to prevent relativeendwise, lateral, or lateral twisting movements of the spokes.

Since the advent of automobiles the ingenuity of wheel manufacturers hasbeen taxed to the utmost to provide a wheel of sufiicient strength anddurability to meet the conditions of use and the various strains towhich the same is subjected when employed on an automobile. In themanufacture of this class of wheels numerous strains which do not arisein other conditions of use, have to be taken into consideration, namely,first, the circumferential or rotary twisting strains due to thetendency of a heavy machine to resist a sudden starting or stopping asthe shock in such cases is borne almost entirely by the wheels;secondly, the radial compressing strains due to heavy vehicles passingover ruts or obstructions, and thirdly, the lateral twisting strains ofa portion of the spokes relative to others, due to skidding or theturning of corners when moving rapidly, augmented by the weight of themachine.

The object of my invention is the provision of a wheel of this class,which is simple and comparatively easy and inexpensive of manufacture,and which will meet all of the above requirements as to strength anddurability.

The invention is fully described in the following specification, and apreferred embodiment of the same illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the central or hub portion of a wheel,with a portion of the spokes in section, and Fig. 2 is a section of thesame on the line 00 a" in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 4, 1909.

Patented June 28, 1910.

Serial No. 531,314.

the spokes of a wheel and 2 one of the spoke securing flanges, whichflanges are secured together by the flange bolts or rivets 3. Thesebolts or rivets pass through apertures 4 provided in alternating ones ofthe seams 5 formed by the abutting sides of the hub ends of the spokes,as is customary in wheels of this class. The hub-ends of the spokes aresecurely held against relative movements as above specified by theprovision of two sets of dowel-pins 6 and 7, which are shown as beingarranged in circular form around the hub opening, one set without theother. The pins 67 of the two sets are preferably disposed withinalternate seams 5 of the wheel, and as the sets of pins are disposed atdifferent distances from the wheel center each spoke will be locked toone abutting spoke adjacent the inner ends of the abutting faces. Thisarrangement positions the locking-pins in staggered relation andeffectually prevents both relative longitudinal and lateral twisting orwrenching movements. The pins 67 are substantially tangentially arrangedrelative to 'a circle concentric to the wheel axis and are glued orotherwise suitably secured into registering sockets provided in theabutting faces of the inner spoke ends, as indicated. Should the pinsall be arranged in a common circle those on opposite sides of each spokewould form trunnions for the spoke to swing laterally on relative to thewheel. This, however, is prevented by setting the alternate pins inradially staggered relation, as each then acts as a stop against anypivotal movement of a spoke on the succeeding pin.

It is apparent that I have provided a simple and etlicient wheel whichis exceedingly strong in its construction and capable of withstandingvery severe shocks and strains.

I wish it understood that my invention is not limited to any specificconstruction or arrangement of the parts except in so far as suchlimitations are contained in the claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Let ters Patent, is,

1. In a wheel, the combination with the abutting hub ends of spokeshaving registering sockets therein, of dowel-pins disposed within saidsockets to lock the spokes against relative movements, said pins beingarranged in staggered relation and tangentially disposed relative tocircles concentric posed Within alternate seams between the to the Wheelaxis. spokes, substantially as and for the purpose 2. In a Wheel, thecombination With the described. abutting hub ends of the spokes havingIn testlmony whereof, I have hereunto 5 registering dowel-pin sockets intheir meet- Signed my name to this specification in the 15 ing faces, ofdowel-pins secured Within said presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

sockets and tangentially-disposed relative CHESTER A. FRICK. to circlesconcentric to the Wheel axis, said Witnesses: pins being arranged in tworadially spaced ORLANDO A. FRIoK,

'10 circular sets, the members of Which are dis- JOHN W. WINN.

